St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-11
VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE.
How the President and Mrs. CIeyc-
land Receive the People.


President Cleveland is very fond of
seeing the public. He has been in the
habit during the season of holding public
receptions three times a week-Monday.
Wednesday and Friday-at half-past one
each day. These receptions have become
quite feature in Washington, and are
regularly attended by large numbers of
tourists. 1t is one of the sights of Wash
ington, and people who want to see the
President at home generally go to the
White House on one ofthese days to shake
hands with him. These receptions are
entirely different from the state recep-
lions during the sessions of Congress,
which are held at night. These latter
are full-dress affairs, and the guests are
generally invited. Mrs. Cleveland assists
him in these latter, and generally the
ladies of the Cabinet are with the presi-
dental party, but at the midday recep-
tons only the President appears.
He says it gives him a chance to see
and know the people of the United
States, and let the people know him. Ger
tainly he has made big acquaintance if
he calls this knowing the people, because
he will average /, 800 persons a week
As early as eleven o'clock people begin
to arrive at the White House and take
their places in the big East Room to await
his coming. The East Room occupies
the entire first floor of the east wing, and
is one Of the finest reception halls in the
country. 1t is sparingly furnished, but
during crowded reception the people are
generally huddled together in the centre
of the room and there's no need of chairs.
All sorts and conditions of people attend
these receptions. When they come up on a
reception day the doorkeeper informs them
that the President will be down at half
past one clock to shake hands with them
and invariably they wait to see him.
The President generally devotes his
morning to callers, such as congressman
and distinguished persons who come
on business, and delegations which come
to urge somebody for appointment.
About one o'clock the President notifies
his doorkeeper to tell him how many
people are awaiting for a reception, then
he makes his preparations to go down
stairs. The people are notified, and are
gathered together in the centre of the
room. He goes down the private
stairway to the west of the house
and walks through the long por-
trait corridor. Two ushers, or door
keepers, meet him at the end of this
portrait gallery, and the large doors of
the East Room are thrown open. He en-
tiers the big room Just in the middle on
the west side. Two ushers take their
places on either side of the President.
just in front of him, while his own pri-
vate doorkeeper, Charles Loetfier, shows
the people who have spoken to the Presi-
dent into the vestibule and out of the
house.
The first person nearest the President is
generally brought forward and in;ro-
duced. The President shakes hands with
him, remarking that he hopes he is well,
and passes him along. Then the stream
of people commences to flow past. The
ushers do not allow them to stop. but
merely put out their hands, grasp the
Presidents, give it shake and pass on.
In this way great many people are rap
idly handled